To Provide Financial Relief to Dioceses
Resolution text
Resolved, as stated in FIN-127 (January 2021), Executive Council sees the financial strain of the pandemic on dioceses and acknowledges the need to provide immediate relief. Council recognizes the dioceses’ struggles to balance budgets, make hard decisions about staffing and program, and best support the stressed congregations under their care.
Executive Council, made up of members from across the church-wide body each with their own pandemic struggles and stories, asserts that we are one church. Across the church, life and finances are hard and faithful work is exhausting. The future, financial and otherwise, is uncertain and uncharted. We witness the determined and costly efforts across our church to continue in the Way of Love. And, be it further
Resolved, that Executive Council reaffirms the principles of budget planning set forth in A Plan for Emergency Management of the Current General Convention Budget (2019-2021) in June 2020, including its underlying theology and commitment:
We (Executive Council) hope and pray that the strategies employed will reflect our collective commitment to the way of love as embodied by Jesus of Nazareth. We pledge to respect the dignity of every person and strive for justice and peace among all people as we are called to do by the promises we renew in the Baptismal Covenant . . . Remembering that we are the people of God, we are open to and heartened by the presence of the Holy Spirit who is calling us out of the wilderness to become the church we are called to be during this time.
The Plan continues...
The Executive Council renews its commitment to use its human and financial resources to support the most vulnerable, the marginalized, and the under-served and under resourced within our church and beyond. At no time in our recent history have the results of racist injustice been so apparent, and we pledge to keep this truth in our sight as we make decisions about the budget. Therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting via Zoom on April 16, 2021, in response to FIN-127 and in keeping with the principles of A Plan for Emergency Management of the Current General Convention Budget (2019-2021), allocates up to $40,000 per diocese to provide relief from Covid-19 related financial hardship to each diocese, and be it further
Resolved, that, in accordance with Canon I.4.6(g), Executive Council issues approval for dioceses otherwise not in compliance with Canon I.4.6(g) to request and receive this relief grant, and be it further
Resolved, that the process by which diocesan leadership discerns a need for relief, and the form for the ecclesiastical authority to make a request for a grant, and the method to request payment is spelled out in the accompanying request form. And be it further
Resolved, that the Executive Council directs the treasurer to wire the requested relief, up to $40,000 per diocese, to the dioceses as soon as feasible. And be it further
Resolved, that the availability of these relief grants will be communicated to the church by press release and by letters to the ecclesiastical authorities and treasurers of every diocese, immediately following approval of this resolution.